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J. M. DIXON.

.AUTOMATIO RAILWAY vfSWITGH. I No. 528,533. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

Witnesses:

. I in THE NORRIS VETERS no, FKOTOLITHOH wasnmm'ou, u. c.

- UNITED STATES JOSEPH M. DIXON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGN OR OFONE-HALF TO ARTHUR S. FRENCH, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC RAI LWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,533, dated November6, 1894.

Application filed October 11, 1893 Serial No. 487,901. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. DIXON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Brooklymcounty of Kings, State of New York,

haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Railway-Switches,whereby the switch can be operated by the driver or motorman from theplatform of the car while the car or cars are in motion, of which the Ifollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, the same forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a section of railway nearthe switch showing the application of my invention thereto, the switchbeing closed. Fig. 2 represents two views of the operating foot leversattached to the front of a street car platform, one a section throughframe work and floor 2 of the platform, showing the foot levers in slotand the other view showing the method of attaching the levers to thebottom of the frame. Fig. 3 is a top view of a rail showing modificationof my invention as applied to the under side or within inclosure of arail adapted to same. Figs. 4, 5, and6 are cross sections of severalforms of rails among others to which my invention may be applied.

Similar letters refer to similar parts of the mechanism of my inventionin the several figures of the drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a means of opening and closingstreet-railway switches by the motorman or driver while the car is inmotion without the intervention or assistance of a switchman. Thisoperation is accomplished by the driver or motorman pressing his foot onthe boss S, formed on the,

upper end of the foot lever G, that passes up 0 through the car platformT under which the crank swivel end of the foot lever is hinged in thebearings U. This action on the part of the operator causes the lower endof the foot-lever G to press downward on the surface of the track A andto fall in the longitudinal slot H, when the car has moved forward therequired distance to the entrance of said slot. When the foot leverstrikes on the swing bar F, at its extreme end and pushes said swing barforward causing the connecting rod E, to

move forward the end of the same and operate the bell-crank, D, to whichit is connected by a loose joint n, the bell crank then partiallyrevolves on its bearing, m, and pulls the connecting-link O, to which itis swiveled at Z, to pull the switch open, the other end of theconnecting link being pivoted to the under side of the said switch at K,at its forward end, the other end of the switch being pivoted to thetrack in the'usual manner.

The operation of closing the switch is performed by the driver or"motorman by his pressing the boss end of the foot lever on the oppositeside of the platform from the foot lever to open the switch, the ends ofthe swing bar F, being extended under the surface of the track orthrough slots R in sides of the same and being so arranged that when onecar has passed and opened the switch the car following wishing theswitch closed can do so by depressing the foot lever on the oppositeside in the slot and movethe swing bar so that it will reverse theaction of the mechanism for the desired purpose, the swing bar beingpivoted to the tie Q in the center on any appropriate bracket J, by abolt P. When the operator has moved the switch he releases his foot fromthe boss, and the foot lever is restored to its normal position by meansof any suitable spring V, attached So to the car platform and the footlever so as to throw the said lever up from the slot and track. Tofacilitate this operation lincline the upper surface of the ends of theslot as shown.

The mechanism of that part of my invention that operates and isconnected to switch direct, can be placed'under the surface in anymanner suitable to the kind or form of track used, or pavement used toprotect same, hav- 9o ing suitable iron hand hole covers to allow accessto those parts requiring same.

The modification of my invention as shown in Fig. 3, is particularlyadapted to the use of switches required on tracks such as are 5 shown inFigs. 5 and 6. This modification which relates only to the position ofthatpart of the mechanism included in the connecting rod E, the bellcrank, D, the arrangement of the swing or connecting-link G, and the endof the switch to be moved.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire tosecure by Letters slots in the rails, the parts being Combined Patent,is and arranged for operation, substantially as In a railway switch, thepivoted swing bar shown and described.

reaching under the surfaces of the rails at In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as 15 5 both ends, the bell crank connected with the myinvention I have signed my name, in

switch, the rod uniting the bell crank and presence of two witnesses,this 6th day of swing bar, the rails provided with narrow October, 1893.

parallel sided slots, said swing bar being JOSEPH M. DIXON. adapted tobe actuated by rearwardlyinclin- Witnesses: [0 ing foot levers mountedupon the cars and THOS. H. TROY,

arranged to be pressed down through the RICHD. A. IVHITE.

